Ankush Mahadeorao Chikhale v. The Additional Commissioner, Amravati Division, Amravati And Others

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR WRIT PETITION NO.538 OF 2024 (Ankush Mahadeorao Chikhale Vs. The Additional Commissioner, Amravati Division, Amravati and others) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Office Notes, Office Memoramda of Coram, appearances, Court's orders of directions Court's or Judge's orders.

and Registrar's Orders.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. S. M. Vaishnav, Advocate for Petitioner.

Ms. Kalyani P. Marpakwar, Advocate for Respondent Nos.1 to 3/State. Mr. N. A. Gawande, Advocate for Respondent No.5. CORAM: N. R. BORKAR, J.

DATE: 7 th OCTOBER, 2024.

This petition takes exception to the order dated 4th January, 2024 passed by respondent No.1 the Additional Commissioner, Amravati Division, Amravati in Appeal No.47/BVP/Sec.16(2)/Khanapur/2023.

2.

The petitioner was elected as Member of Gram Panchayat, Khanapur. The respondent No.5 herein had filed an application before respondent No.2 - the Additional Collector, seeking disqualification of the petitioner in terms of Section 14 (1)(J-3) of the Maharashtra Village Panchayat Act for having encroached upon the government land. Respondent No.2 allowed the said application by order dated 17th April, 2023.

3.

By the order impugned, respondent No.1 has dismissed the appeal filed by the petitioner against the

order of respondent No.2.

4.

I have heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Assistant Government Pleader for respondent Nos.1 to 3 and the learned counsel for respondent No.5.

5.

The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that respondent No.2 to allow the application filed by respondent No.5 has relied upon the measurement report of respondent No.3. It is submitted that there is nothing to show that alleged encroached area is a government land. 6.

On the other hand the learned counsel for the respondent No.5 submits that encroachment is apparent from the measurement report. It is submitted that, the present petition, therefore, may not be entertained. 7.

I have perused the impugned orders and measurement report. The measurement report is silent on the crucial aspects i.e. nature of encroachment and whether the alleged encroached area is a government land. The orders impugned based on such report can not be allowed to stand. The orders impugned are therefore, set aside. The matter is remanded back to respondent No.2 for deciding it afresh.

8.

The petition is disposed of in the aforesaid terms.

9.

The respondent No.2 shall endeavour to decide the matter within a period of three months from the date of receipt of the copy of this order.

(N. R. BORKAR, J.) NSN